Judy Garland News

To honor and spotlight the distinguished achievements in the American circus arts, Circus Now together with the Big Apple Circus, in association with Executive Producer and Director Jonathan S. Cerullo, JSC Theatricals, is proud to present the 2nd Annual Celebration of American Circus at the Big Top at Lincoln Center on January 5, 2016 at 8pm. Part ceremony, part performance, the Celebration of American Circus will honor four artists and/or organizations that have been prominent in the circus arts landscape in America, while spotlighting the thriving state of the circus arts across the nation, and will feature Emcee Thom Wall, with performances from a variety of breath-taking acts.  Tickets start at $25 and are available online at www.circusnow.org/CELEBRATE2016.

He's going to put a smile on your face and song in your heart. MAURICE HINES TAPPIN' THRU LIFE is a swinging, song and dance musical that celebrates the astonishing showmanship of one of the last great tap dancers of a by-gone era still working today and whose collaborators were a jaw-dropping, who's who of theatre, music, film and television. Co-starring the fierce tap dancing Manzari brothers and the all female vivacious Diva Jazz Orchestra, the show is directed byJeff Calhoun (Newsies, Deaf West's Big River, Grease). Performances begin Wednesday, December 23rd at New World Stages (340 W. 50th Street), and opening night is Monday, January 11th.

Producers Daniel Nardicio and Andy Brattain will honor Edith Piaf, the iconic French songstress on her actual 100th Birthday with PIAF: A CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION with stars from Broadway, London's West End, Jazz, Cabaret and Rock 'n' Roll.

He's going to put a smile on your face and song in your heart. MAURICE HINES TAPPIN' THRU LIFE is a swinging, song and dance musical that celebrates the astonishing showmanship of one of the last great tap dancers of a by-gone era still working today and whose collaborators were a jaw-dropping, who's who of theatre, music, film and television. Co-starring the fierce tap dancing Manzari brothers and the all female vivacious Diva Jazz Orchestra, the show is directed byJeff Calhoun (Newsies, Deaf West's Big River, Grease). Performances begin Wednesday, December 23rd at New World Stages (340 W. 50th Street), and opening night is Monday, January 11th.

Despite reports to the contrary, Bradley Cooper insisted that Beyonce will not star in the highly anticipated remake of A STAR IS BORN.

Happy Birthday, Tammy Blanchard! Blanchard was nominated for a Tony Award in 2012 for her performance in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING and is best known for her portrayal of the young Judy Garland in 'Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows' (Emmy Award, Golden Globe and AFI nominations). Her Broadway credits include Gypsy (Tony nomination, Theatre World Award). She was most recently seen in the film Moneyball. Blanchard's other film credits include The Good Shepherd, Bella, Cadillac Records and Rabbit Hole, and she recently completed The Music Never Stopped, Certainty, Union Square and Burning Blue. Her television credits include 'A Gifted Man', 'We Were the Mulvaneys,' 'Sybil,' 'Living Proof,' 'Amish Grace,' 'The Good Wife,' 'Law & Order: SVU', 'Guiding Light', and the original Lifetime TV movie, 'Of Two Minds.'

ELOISE creator Hilary Knight caught up with Evelyn Rudie who created the role of ELOISE in 1956 on television's 'Playhouse 90.' It brought her critical acclaim and an Emmy nomination at age six-the first time a child actress was so honored. Evelyn is now the director of the acclaimed off-Broadway hit, 2 ACROSS, which stars Andrea McArdle. Below, check out a picture of Knight, Rudie, and McArdle posing at the 2 ACROSS opening night!

BWW:UK reviewer Natalie O'Donoghue lists her best and worst theatre experiences of 2015!

JSP Records is proud to announce it will release in early 2016 JUDY GARLAND SINGS HAROLD ARLEN, a 2-CD box set devoted to Harold Arlen (1905-1986) tunes Judy Garland (1922-1969) performed in the studio, on screen, on the radio, and on stage between 1938 and 1968. Four tracks are new to CD.

A hit in the West End and on Broadway, End of the Rainbow will return in 2016, touring the UK in a brand new production opening at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester in February starring Lisa Maxwell as Judy Garland.

Celebrate Sinatra's birth centennial with the timeless music of the legendary team, Nelson Riddle and Frank Sinatra! Famed big band singer Bryan Anthony and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, directed by his son, Christopher Riddle, will transport the audience back to a magical and beloved era in music!

Almost 80 students from The Dolores Mission School gathered for a wonderful opportunity to visit Hollywood and tour the recently decorated Hollywood Museum, enjoy the beautiful holiday decorations by Dr Christmas (Bob Pranga), as well as hear inspirational stories with interesting messages from local politicians and personalities. Scroll down for photos from the event!

Tony Award-nominated star Andrea McArdle brings her Broadway voice to Pepperdine University's Smothers Theatre in Malibu on Tuesday, January 12 at 8 p.m.

?A hit in the West End and on Broadway, END OF THE RAINBOW will return to the stage in 2016, playing at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Mon 18 - Wed 20 April as part of a major new UK tour, starring Lisa Maxwell as Judy Garland. A hit in the West End and on Broadway, END OF THE RAINBOW will return to the stage in 2016, playing at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Mon 18 - Wed 20 April as part of a major new UK tour, starring Lisa Maxwell as Judy Garland.

The Off-Broadway premiere of Jerry Mayer's new comedy, 2 Across, is currently playing an open-ended engagement at St. Luke's Theatre (308 West 46th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues). The production officially opens tonight, December 9, with Emmy Award nominee Evelyn Rudie ('Eloise') directing a cast that stars Andrea McArdle and Kip Gilman.

Gary Naylor sees Judy Garland brought back to life by three very fine performances in a show that is at its best when the songs are being sung.

Described as “An Afternoon of Famous Duets,” Saturday's Urban Stages Winter Rhythms presentation (Day Four of the 11-day, 20-show festival) was unexpectedly sweeping in its approach, covering duos that sang pop, folk, jazz, Great American Songbook, and musical theater tunes. With veteran cabaret singer Sue Matsuki serving as producer and host, and Musical Director Gregory Toroian on piano, the show encompassed both the predictable and the surprising and was a genuine pleasure.

The Firehouse Theatre has set auditions for their upcoming production of THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE for December 15-17 and is excited to announce that Janelle Lutz has been cast as Millie Dillmount.

In her recent cabaret show, More Than You Know (November 23 at The Triad's Stage 72), Arlene Wolff continued a comeback that has been 50 years in the making (which started last November when she performed at the Waterwheel Café in Milford, PA). Revisiting her youth and those turbulent political years, Wolff offered up a smorgasbord of delectable “Tales from the City” over a two-hour long concert of some 22 songs, presented in a two-act format with one intermission . . . Relying on an impressive repertoire of standards, Wolff vocally revisited the classics with a smoldering propensity, impeccable phrasing and articulation--never once dropping a lyric.